District 2 Council Member Wanika B. Fisher, Esq. proudly celebrates the significant progress of Maryland’s Reparations Bill — a historic step she has championed since serving as a State Delegate from 2018 to 2022. SB587 has been passed by both the Maryland House and Senate and is headed to the Governor’s desk to be signed.
The state bill builds upon progress made at the local level in 2024 when Council Member Fisher championed a Council Resolution (CR-005-2024) that was unanimously passed by the Prince George’s County Council, formally expressing support for reparations and laying the groundwork for county-level action.
The 2025 state legislation seeks to address generational harm caused by slavery and institutional racism in Maryland. Council Member Fisher, one of the bill’s earliest and most vocal proponents, has long urged the state to reckon with its legacy of injustice through meaningful and transformative policy.
“As the daughter of immigrants and a proud Black woman elected in the state of Maryland, I take seriously the responsibility to ensure that the legacy of slavery is not ignored, but reckoned with through bold policy and systemic change,” said Council Member Fisher. “Since 2018, I have worked in coalition with the Legislative Black Caucus Delegation, Tiffany McCaskill, and Senator C. Anthony Muse to make this moment possible. This is not about charity—this is about justice.”
The Maryland Reparations Bill proposes the establishment of a commission to study the state’s involvement in slavery and systemic discrimination, and to assess ongoing disparities in housing, healthcare, education, and criminal justice. The commission would be tasked with developing recommendations for reparative actions and equity-centered investments.
“Passing this bill is not the end—it’s the beginning of a deeper commitment to transformative justice,” said Fisher. “Maryland has the opportunity to lead the nation in righting historical wrongs with action, not just words. I strongly encourage Governor Moore to sign this bill into law.”